The Lensoviet Theater has unveiled its latest artistic presentation, an expansive exhibition titled “Artist” that centers on the life and work of the Russian playwright Alexander Ostrovsky. This event marks his 200th birth anniversary, inviting audiences to explore the enduring relevance of Ostrovsky’s dramatic voice and the era he captured on stage. Though the exhibition is a milestone for the theater, it also serves as a broader reflection on the legacy Ostrovsky left to Russian theatre, inviting attendees to trace how his characters and social commentary have influenced generations of performers and directors alike.
The theater’s commemorative story began long before this moment, tracing its roots back to November 19, 1933, when Ostrovsky’s comedy Mad Money opened the house’s curtains for the first time. Vera Matveeva, the curator of the theater museum, offers a vivid account of the early aesthetic choices that defined the venue. In those early years, productions ranged across the troupe’s repertoire, featuring pieces that spanned a spectrum from lively farce to thoughtful social satire. Matveeva notes that the repertory of the era included titles such as Jokers and a Snowy Place and a Dense Place and a Forest, as well as Simplicity Enough for Any Wise Man, each contributing to a growing sense of theatrical identity within the city and beyond. This heritage frames the current exhibition by providing a tangible lineage from past triumphs to contemporary interpretive work, underscoring how the theater has consistently served as a cultural beacon in the region.
As part of the program, visitors will encounter a curated display of period theatre posters, preliminary sketches of scenery, and costume designs created by artists inspired by Ostrovsky’s oeuvre. These elements illuminate the practical artistry behind his plays—the visual language that accompanied his sharp dialogue and intricate social commentary. Matveeva adds that the occasion will also feature a staged premiere of The Marriage of Balzaminov, brought to life by director Damir Salimzyanov, with a focus on Ostrovsky’s anniversary. The staging promises to fuse historic material with modern theatrical sensibilities, inviting audiences to experience how a classic text can resonate with today’s audiences through updated production design and contemporary directing choices.
Meanwhile, in a broader regional context, plans previously announced to honor the 120th anniversary of Anatoly Kaplan’s birth reveal a growing pattern of institutional memory work within Russia’s theatre communities. In St. Petersburg, word has circulated about an upcoming exhibition dedicated to Kaplan, reflecting the ongoing commitment of cultural institutions to preserve and reinterpret the legacies of significant 20th-century artists. The sequence of exhibitions and performances surrounding Ostrovsky and Kaplan demonstrates a shared aim: to keep historical artistic achievements alive by presenting them through new lenses, while still preserving the essence of what made these figures influential. The Lensoviet Theater’s Ostrovsky celebration sits within this broader initiative, offering a connective thread between historical remembrance and contemporary stagecraft, and affirming the theatre’s role as a custodian of literary drama and its evolving interpretation for modern audiences.